The Review Magazine: July/August 2023

Walking tour during the visioning phase of Reaching NEW Muskegon Heights.

Creating community consensus with public planning and prioritizing sessions

They decided on three main goals to get the project going: 1. Create community consensus on what projects to prioritize; 2. Show a unified effort to attract investments; and 3. Set a goal to apply for grants from various organizations including the Muskegon County Community Foundation, Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), Greater Muskegon Economic Development (GMED), and more.

Vision Partnerships GMED worked in partnership with the city to manage the project after the vision plan was approved by the downtown development authority. Cathy Brubaker-Clarke, GMED’s community development strategist, has been instrumental in putting Muskegon Heights’ vision into action. “Muskegon Heights has experienced difficulties in the past, while it is also a community with heart, that never gives up,” said Brubaker-Clarke. “The citizens and administration strive to achieve the best, which includes outreach and partnerships outside the city boundaries. The community has embraced the vision plan, ‘Reaching NEW Muskegon Heights,’ as well as subsequent plans to implement this vision.”

JULY / AUGUST 2023

21

THE REVIEW